Gordon Brown will warn Britain's European Union partners that he will not agree to any further "navel-gazing" internal reforms once the 27-nation bloc has approved a new governing treaty. In Lisbon today, at his first EU summit since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Brown will tell his counterparts to end their long debate about EU institutions and start addressing issues such as job creation and climate change which matter to ordinary people. Mr Brown will sign up to the new treaty tonight, which will streamline the EU's decision-making procedures, provided that Britain's much-vaunted "red lines" are preserved. These are designed to safeguard Britain's right to decide its own social and labour laws; common law, police and judicial processes; foreign and defence policies and tax and social security systems. One minister said: "We will draw a line in the sand and say 'thus far, no further'. The treaty is needed but the EU will never win the support of its citizens if it embarks on yet another round of institutional reform."
Gordon Brown will warn Britain's European Union partners that he will not agree to any further "navel-gazing" internal reforms once the 27-nation bloc has approved a new governing treaty.
In Lisbon today, at his first EU summit since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Brown will tell his counterparts to end their long debate about EU institutions and start addressing issues such as job creation and climate change which matter to ordinary people.
Mr Brown will sign up to the new treaty tonight, which will streamline the EU's decision-making procedures, provided that Britain's much-vaunted "red lines" are preserved. These are designed to safeguard Britain's right to decide its own social and labour laws; common law, police and judicial processes; foreign and defence policies and tax and social security systems.
One minister said: "We will draw a line in the sand and say 'thus far, no further'. The treaty is needed but the EU will never win the support of its citizens if it embarks on yet another round of institutional reform."
An overwhelming majority of people in the European Union's five biggest member states want the bloc's treaty on institutional reform to be submitted to national referendums, according to an opinion poll published on Thursday.The FT/Harris poll will keep Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, on the defensive by strengthening the determination of his political opponents to secure a referendum on the treaty, which is due to be approved at an EU summit in Lisbon starting on Thursday.ADVERTISEMENTThe poll is likely to unsettle political leaders in other EU capitals who oppose holding referendums for fear of a repeat of the French and Dutch votes of 2005 that wrecked the EU's ill-fated constitutional treaty.The new document, known as the reform treaty, resembles the old in that it reshapes the EU's institutions, changes its voting procedures, expands the role of the European parliament and national legislatures, and includes a charter of fundamental rights.
An overwhelming majority of people in the European Union's five biggest member states want the bloc's treaty on institutional reform to be submitted to national referendums, according to an opinion poll published on Thursday.
The FT/Harris poll will keep Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, on the defensive by strengthening the determination of his political opponents to secure a referendum on the treaty, which is due to be approved at an EU summit in Lisbon starting on Thursday.
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The poll is likely to unsettle political leaders in other EU capitals who oppose holding referendums for fear of a repeat of the French and Dutch votes of 2005 that wrecked the EU's ill-fated constitutional treaty.
The new document, known as the reform treaty, resembles the old in that it reshapes the EU's institutions, changes its voting procedures, expands the role of the European parliament and national legislatures, and includes a charter of fundamental rights.
Turkey's parliament has overwhelmingly approved a cross-border attack into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish guerrillas - which would open another front in the war in Iraq. The parliament in Ankara voted 507 to 19 in favour of ordering the army to launch an offensive across Turkey's south-eastern border in search of 3,500 PKK Turkish-Kurd rebels hiding in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Turkish move deepens the sense of crisis over Turkey's slow motion build-up towards an attack that has already helped propel the price of oil to $88 (£44) a barrel this week. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the government in Ankara to back away from its threats of military action without looking weak. In Washington, President Bush spelled out US opposition to a Turkish invasion of northern Iraq. "We are making it very clear to Turkey that we don't think it is in their interest to send troops into Iraq," he said. Nato, of which Turkey is a member with the organisation's second biggest army, and the EU also urged restraint.
Turkey's parliament has overwhelmingly approved a cross-border attack into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish guerrillas - which would open another front in the war in Iraq.
The parliament in Ankara voted 507 to 19 in favour of ordering the army to launch an offensive across Turkey's south-eastern border in search of 3,500 PKK Turkish-Kurd rebels hiding in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan.
The Turkish move deepens the sense of crisis over Turkey's slow motion build-up towards an attack that has already helped propel the price of oil to $88 (£44) a barrel this week. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the government in Ankara to back away from its threats of military action without looking weak.
In Washington, President Bush spelled out US opposition to a Turkish invasion of northern Iraq. "We are making it very clear to Turkey that we don't think it is in their interest to send troops into Iraq," he said. Nato, of which Turkey is a member with the organisation's second biggest army, and the EU also urged restraint.
The Turkish parliament gave the government authorization for a possible cross-border military operation into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels despite opposition from the European Union, United States and Iraq. The resolution approved by a large majority of parliamentarians on Wednesday, Oct. 17, allows the government to order cross-border operations in order to deal with an estimated 3,500 rebels from the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) that are based in mountainous northern Iraq. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has played down expectations of an imminent offensive, but the parliamentary approval provides the legal basis for NATO's second biggest army to cross the border as and when it sees fit for one year.After the vote, the European Commission said it hoped Turkey would decide to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq.
The resolution approved by a large majority of parliamentarians on Wednesday, Oct. 17, allows the government to order cross-border operations in order to deal with an estimated 3,500 rebels from the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) that are based in mountainous northern Iraq.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has played down expectations of an imminent offensive, but the parliamentary approval provides the legal basis for NATO's second biggest army to cross the border as and when it sees fit for one year.After the vote, the European Commission said it hoped Turkey would decide to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq.
Kurdish Media
Kurdish rebels based in the rugged mountains along Iraq's northeastern border with Iran told Newsmax in exclusive interviews at secret guerilla bases that they have killed 200 Iranian Revolutionary Guards troops during clashes over the past two months. Guerilla leaders of the Party of the Free Life of Kurdistan, PJAK, said they have clashed with Iranian forces 21 times during this time. Iran has not admitted to the losses. The intense fighting began on Aug. 16, when Iran and Turkey began jointly shelling villages inside Iraq where rebels from those countries have their bases. Both Iran and Turkey are currently massing troops on their sides of the border with Iraq, in preparation for a ground and airborne assault on the rebel bases inside Iraq, according to published reports and information from local sources.
Kurdish rebels based in the rugged mountains along Iraq's northeastern border with Iran told Newsmax in exclusive interviews at secret guerilla bases that they have killed 200 Iranian Revolutionary Guards troops during clashes over the past two months.
Guerilla leaders of the Party of the Free Life of Kurdistan, PJAK, said they have clashed with Iranian forces 21 times during this time.
Iran has not admitted to the losses.
The intense fighting began on Aug. 16, when Iran and Turkey began jointly shelling villages inside Iraq where rebels from those countries have their bases.
Both Iran and Turkey are currently massing troops on their sides of the border with Iraq, in preparation for a ground and airborne assault on the rebel bases inside Iraq, according to published reports and information from local sources.
Nicolas Sarkozy's iron will to face down trade unions and modernise France meets its first test today as a national strike threatens to paralyse public transport, shut down the Paris Opera and disrupt fans travelling to the Rugby World Cup.Dubbed "Black Thursday" by unions, Parisian commuters face at least 24 hours of chaos and cities across France will be left without viable transport as workers take to the streets for the first time over the president's reforms. Railway staff and other transport unions will lead 70 marches across France to protest at Mr Sarkozy's plans to axe the special pensions privileges enjoyed by certain state workers. These generous packages have allowed a number of employees at state-controlled companies to retire early on highly favourable terms. But Mr Sarkozy wants to end the special deals and streamline the costly state sector.The president claims he has the "political courage" to reform France's work practices and will not cave in to strikes as his predecessors have done.
Dubbed "Black Thursday" by unions, Parisian commuters face at least 24 hours of chaos and cities across France will be left without viable transport as workers take to the streets for the first time over the president's reforms.
Railway staff and other transport unions will lead 70 marches across France to protest at Mr Sarkozy's plans to axe the special pensions privileges enjoyed by certain state workers. These generous packages have allowed a number of employees at state-controlled companies to retire early on highly favourable terms. But Mr Sarkozy wants to end the special deals and streamline the costly state sector.
The president claims he has the "political courage" to reform France's work practices and will not cave in to strikes as his predecessors have done.
France is braced for chaos ahead of a strike which could severely disrupt public transport, in particular the country's railway network. Trade unions have called the strike in protest against the reform of special pension schemes enjoyed by a minority of state sector workers. The 24-hour strike is scheduled to start on Wednesday at 2000 local time (1800 GMT). In the past, transport strikes have caused massive disruption in France. National railway company SNCF said only 46 out of 700 high-speed TGV trains would be in normal service.
Trade unions have called the strike in protest against the reform of special pension schemes enjoyed by a minority of state sector workers.
The 24-hour strike is scheduled to start on Wednesday at 2000 local time (1800 GMT).
In the past, transport strikes have caused massive disruption in France.
National railway company SNCF said only 46 out of 700 high-speed TGV trains would be in normal service.
@ someone: Thank you, thank you, thank you! It works like a charm. The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
Top EU and Russian energy officials meeting in Brussels agreed to postpone a dispute over investment access in the gas and electricity sector and showed a united front on gas prices and secure supplies. Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko, who was meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in Brussels on Tuesday, Oct. 16, reiterated concerns over a European Union energy market reform plan that Moscow fears will hamper efforts by its gas monopolist, Gazprom, to expand into Europe. Last month, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, proposed to disband major utility companies that control power supply, generation and transmission in a bid to boost competition and lower prices in the 27-member bloc. The commission, however, inserted a clause in the proposed legislation to bar foreign companies from controlling European pipelines and power grids unless they adhere to the same rules as EU firms and their home country has reached an agreement with officials in Brussels.
Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko, who was meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs in Brussels on Tuesday, Oct. 16, reiterated concerns over a European Union energy market reform plan that Moscow fears will hamper efforts by its gas monopolist, Gazprom, to expand into Europe.
Last month, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, proposed to disband major utility companies that control power supply, generation and transmission in a bid to boost competition and lower prices in the 27-member bloc.
The commission, however, inserted a clause in the proposed legislation to bar foreign companies from controlling European pipelines and power grids unless they adhere to the same rules as EU firms and their home country has reached an agreement with officials in Brussels.
Whether one is for or against Blocher is the question that now divides Switzerland: Should he stay in the government after the elections? Or is the Swiss model finished, with its principle of a coalition of all major parties across the political spectrum? Blocher's Swiss People's Party, the SVP, has plastered his face across the country, on posters that read, simply: "Vote SVP! Strengthen Blocher!" Breakdown of parties in Swiss parliament. Click to enlarge. Even his fiercest opponents, the Social Democrats, are obsessed with him. The cornerstone of their campaign for the past year has been to oust Blocher from office. Violence broke out two weeks ago in Bern, the Swiss capital, when 500 left-wing activists attacked a demonstration staged by Blocher's SVP. Images of stone-throwers, water canons and burning barricades were broadcast around the world. The uproar even attracted the attention of Switzerland's neighbors, like Germany and France, who were so used to mild Swiss election campaigns that they might have been forgiven for thinking the Swiss had no election campaigns. Although Switzerland's economy is thriving, crude issues in this election have ranged from the deportation of foreign criminals, the banning of minarets and youth violence. The main question on the minds of Switzerland's neighbors -- when it will join the European Union -- is nonexistent in this campaign; in fact there is so much resistance to EU membership among the Swiss that no party would make it a platform of its campaign. This is Blocher's work, in large part. His success on the issue of EU membership has been so complete that even his ouster from office would not change public opinion.
Whether one is for or against Blocher is the question that now divides Switzerland: Should he stay in the government after the elections? Or is the Swiss model finished, with its principle of a coalition of all major parties across the political spectrum?
Blocher's Swiss People's Party, the SVP, has plastered his face across the country, on posters that read, simply: "Vote SVP! Strengthen Blocher!"
Breakdown of parties in Swiss parliament. Click to enlarge. Even his fiercest opponents, the Social Democrats, are obsessed with him. The cornerstone of their campaign for the past year has been to oust Blocher from office.
Violence broke out two weeks ago in Bern, the Swiss capital, when 500 left-wing activists attacked a demonstration staged by Blocher's SVP. Images of stone-throwers, water canons and burning barricades were broadcast around the world. The uproar even attracted the attention of Switzerland's neighbors, like Germany and France, who were so used to mild Swiss election campaigns that they might have been forgiven for thinking the Swiss had no election campaigns.
Although Switzerland's economy is thriving, crude issues in this election have ranged from the deportation of foreign criminals, the banning of minarets and youth violence. The main question on the minds of Switzerland's neighbors -- when it will join the European Union -- is nonexistent in this campaign; in fact there is so much resistance to EU membership among the Swiss that no party would make it a platform of its campaign. This is Blocher's work, in large part. His success on the issue of EU membership has been so complete that even his ouster from office would not change public opinion.
The Swiss People's party (SVP) has run a predictably alarmist campaign to mobilise support ahead of Sunday's federal elections. But this time, the ultranationalists have had to scrape the barrel to find enough populist themes to bring out the vote.Once every four years, Switzerland's political system briefly attracts the world's attention as the SVP's provocative campaigning prompts accusations of racism and distortion, amid fears that one of Europe's most stable democracies may be lurching towards the far right.This year has been no exception. Battling as ever to "uphold Swiss values" on an aggressively anti-immigrant, law and order platform, SVP posters showing three white sheep on a Swiss cross kicking off a fourth black one were attacked as racist. This week a Zurich court ruled against the claim but the posters, having achieved their purpose, had already been withdrawn.But the SVP's tactics may prove to be less effective than in previous elections over the past 15 years.
The Swiss People's party (SVP) has run a predictably alarmist campaign to mobilise support ahead of Sunday's federal elections. But this time, the ultranationalists have had to scrape the barrel to find enough populist themes to bring out the vote.
Once every four years, Switzerland's political system briefly attracts the world's attention as the SVP's provocative campaigning prompts accusations of racism and distortion, amid fears that one of Europe's most stable democracies may be lurching towards the far right.
This year has been no exception. Battling as ever to "uphold Swiss values" on an aggressively anti-immigrant, law and order platform, SVP posters showing three white sheep on a Swiss cross kicking off a fourth black one were attacked as racist. This week a Zurich court ruled against the claim but the posters, having achieved their purpose, had already been withdrawn.
But the SVP's tactics may prove to be less effective than in previous elections over the past 15 years.
Germany's Social Democrats reformed the national system of unemployment benefits while they ruled with the Greens between 1998 and 2005. Now their leader Kurt Beck wants to backtrack on the reforms. His main critic, Franz Müntefering, has given in, and German papers fear the worst. SPD leader Kurt Beck, right, and his party colleague Franz Müntefering, Germany's Vice Chancellor, have not been on good terms. Kurt Beck, the leader of Germany's Social Democrat Party (SPD), caused a stir several weeks ago by announcing his intention to revoke significant parts of Agenda 2010, a welfare-reform package introduced under former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in 2003. The announcement led to a long dispute between Beck and German Vice Chancellor Franz Müntefering, who feels Beck's proposals endanger much of what the SPD has achieved. Now Müntefering has capitulated, recognizing the persistent unpopularity of Agenda 2010 among Social Democrat voters. The declared aim of the Agenda 2010 reforms is to trim Germany's generous welfare state and stimulate the economy. One of the most controversial elements of Agenda 2010 is a new unemployment benefits regime known as Hartz IV. Hartz IV shortens the period of time during which full unemployment benefits are paid out. Beck wants to extend this period again, in accordance with a model developed by the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB).
Germany's Social Democrats reformed the national system of unemployment benefits while they ruled with the Greens between 1998 and 2005. Now their leader Kurt Beck wants to backtrack on the reforms. His main critic, Franz Müntefering, has given in, and German papers fear the worst.
SPD leader Kurt Beck, right, and his party colleague Franz Müntefering, Germany's Vice Chancellor, have not been on good terms. Kurt Beck, the leader of Germany's Social Democrat Party (SPD), caused a stir several weeks ago by announcing his intention to revoke significant parts of Agenda 2010, a welfare-reform package introduced under former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in 2003. The announcement led to a long dispute between Beck and German Vice Chancellor Franz Müntefering, who feels Beck's proposals endanger much of what the SPD has achieved. Now Müntefering has capitulated, recognizing the persistent unpopularity of Agenda 2010 among Social Democrat voters.
The declared aim of the Agenda 2010 reforms is to trim Germany's generous welfare state and stimulate the economy. One of the most controversial elements of Agenda 2010 is a new unemployment benefits regime known as Hartz IV. Hartz IV shortens the period of time during which full unemployment benefits are paid out. Beck wants to extend this period again, in accordance with a model developed by the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB).
Austria has granted asylum to thousands of refugees from the war-torn Balkans since the 1990s. In this case, Mr. Platter [Austria's interior minister] said, the government consulted United Nations officials who administer Kosovo, and was told there was no reason not to repatriate the Zogaj family. The fact that they would have less economic opportunity in Kosovo was not grounds for asylum, Mr. Platter said. The problem, critics say, lies with Austria's asylum system, which has a backlog of more than 30,000 applications. Foreigners can live here for a decade or more before being told that they have to leave. At a protest on Tuesday, students wore placards with the names of other families facing expulsion. Austria has so many asylum seekers, experts say, largely because it is so difficult to get in any other way. In a European Union-backed study of migration trends released Monday, Austria ranks near the bottom of 25 European countries in its openness to migrants. A new law, adopted in 2006, raises the hurdles to reuniting immigrants with their family members and makes it harder to gain citizenship. Defenders say the measures are needed in a country in which more than 13 percent of the population is foreign-born and nearly 10 percent hold foreign passports. Critics say the policy reflects Austria's refusal to accept that it is an immigration country, whether the immigrants are the young Czech women who work as nurses today, or the Czech refugees of a century ago.
The problem, critics say, lies with Austria's asylum system, which has a backlog of more than 30,000 applications. Foreigners can live here for a decade or more before being told that they have to leave. At a protest on Tuesday, students wore placards with the names of other families facing expulsion.
Austria has so many asylum seekers, experts say, largely because it is so difficult to get in any other way. In a European Union-backed study of migration trends released Monday, Austria ranks near the bottom of 25 European countries in its openness to migrants.
A new law, adopted in 2006, raises the hurdles to reuniting immigrants with their family members and makes it harder to gain citizenship. Defenders say the measures are needed in a country in which more than 13 percent of the population is foreign-born and nearly 10 percent hold foreign passports.
Critics say the policy reflects Austria's refusal to accept that it is an immigration country, whether the immigrants are the young Czech women who work as nurses today, or the Czech refugees of a century ago.
Britain is facing the prospect of house price declines as severe as those suffered in the US following the crisis in the sub-prime mortgage lending, the International Monetary Fund has warned.Roger Bootle: House prices will fallThe sub-prime mortgage crisis in fullMortgage lenders pull 40 per cent of dealsThe Washington-based fund identified the UK as among the most susceptible economies in Europe to a housing market correction. IMF warns of house price correction"Housing markets have boomed in a number of fast-growing economies, most notably Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with rapid price rises and sharp increases in residential investment relative to GDP [gross domestic product] exceeding even those observed during the US housing boom," the IMF said in its closely-watched world economic outlook."Given that rapid increases in some countries have raised concerns about possible excesses, some cooling seems desirable, if it does not go too far too fast. But could a housing correction in western Europe be as deep as in the United States? [Our analysis] suggests that the extent of house price overvaluation may be considerably larger in some national markets in Europe than in the United States, and there would clearly be a sizable impact on the housing markets in the event of a widespread credit crunch."
Britain is facing the prospect of house price declines as severe as those suffered in the US following the crisis in the sub-prime mortgage lending, the International Monetary Fund has warned.
The Washington-based fund identified the UK as among the most susceptible economies in Europe to a housing market correction.
"Housing markets have boomed in a number of fast-growing economies, most notably Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with rapid price rises and sharp increases in residential investment relative to GDP [gross domestic product] exceeding even those observed during the US housing boom," the IMF said in its closely-watched world economic outlook.
"Given that rapid increases in some countries have raised concerns about possible excesses, some cooling seems desirable, if it does not go too far too fast. But could a housing correction in western Europe be as deep as in the United States? [Our analysis] suggests that the extent of house price overvaluation may be considerably larger in some national markets in Europe than in the United States, and there would clearly be a sizable impact on the housing markets in the event of a widespread credit crunch."
BRUSSELS, October 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's admission to the WTO should lay the groundwork for closer economic integration with the European Union, the EU trade chief said Wednesday. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said Russian President Vladimir Putin should clear the remaining obstacles for Russia's WTO membership and iron out trade issues with the European Union before his second, and last presidential term comes to an end next year. "We should strive to resolve the remaining issues between us ahead of next week's EU-Russia summit in Mafra [Portugal]," he said. Poland said Monday it could bar Russia's entry to the WTO if Moscow fails to lift the 2005 embargo imposed on imports of meat and agricultural products. Russia imposed a temporary ban on meat products and fruit and vegetable deliveries from Poland in November 2005, saying Polish companies re-exported the products from third countries representing a threat to sanitary standards. Demanding that Russia lift the embargo, Poland blocked talks on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Russia and the EU. The current agreement expires in December. Another issue is the EU's plan to limit Russian business operations in its energy market. Moscow said last Friday it will ask the WTO to protect its interests if the EU passes laws restricting Russian energy companies' operations on its territory.
BRUSSELS, October 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's admission to the WTO should lay the groundwork for closer economic integration with the European Union, the EU trade chief said Wednesday.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said Russian President Vladimir Putin should clear the remaining obstacles for Russia's WTO membership and iron out trade issues with the European Union before his second, and last presidential term comes to an end next year.
"We should strive to resolve the remaining issues between us ahead of next week's EU-Russia summit in Mafra [Portugal]," he said.
Poland said Monday it could bar Russia's entry to the WTO if Moscow fails to lift the 2005 embargo imposed on imports of meat and agricultural products.
Russia imposed a temporary ban on meat products and fruit and vegetable deliveries from Poland in November 2005, saying Polish companies re-exported the products from third countries representing a threat to sanitary standards.
Demanding that Russia lift the embargo, Poland blocked talks on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Russia and the EU. The current agreement expires in December.
Another issue is the EU's plan to limit Russian business operations in its energy market.
Moscow said last Friday it will ask the WTO to protect its interests if the EU passes laws restricting Russian energy companies' operations on its territory.
EU officials said the bloc's trade relationship with China is "deeply unequal" and have urged Beijing to take action on resolving currency disputes and dismantling barriers for European imports. European officials adopted an unusually strident tone this week on Chinese trade policies, saying Brussels may rethink its relatively soft approach towards China if Beijing doesn't move to correct a growing trade imbalance with the EU. In a letter to the president of the European Commission, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson suggested that China took business in Europe for granted, the BBC reported on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
European officials adopted an unusually strident tone this week on Chinese trade policies, saying Brussels may rethink its relatively soft approach towards China if Beijing doesn't move to correct a growing trade imbalance with the EU.
In a letter to the president of the European Commission, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson suggested that China took business in Europe for granted, the BBC reported on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
DutchNews.nl
Verdonk is 'Proud of the Netherlands' 17-10-2007 Former Liberal (VVD) integration minister Rita Verdonk has launched a new political movement with the name Trots op Nederland (proud of the Netherlands). Verdonk, who left the VVD this week, said the movement would focus on social problems such as traffic jams, care of the elderly, education and immigration.
17-10-2007
Former Liberal (VVD) integration minister Rita Verdonk has launched a new political movement with the name Trots op Nederland (proud of the Netherlands).
Verdonk, who left the VVD this week, said the movement would focus on social problems such as traffic jams, care of the elderly, education and immigration.
Now I need to update the Dutch political spectrum. Again.
,,Op dit moment de Franse president Sarkozy. Die tomeloze energie, die inzet. Terwijl dit kabinet honderd dagen luistert, bouwt hij in die tijd een land op. De manier waarop hij schaakt, daar heb ik veel van geleerd."
"Currently, the French president Sarkozy. His unbridled energy, his dedication. This government listens [to its population] for hundred days, while he builds up a country in the same amount of time. The way how he plays chess [politically], I've learned a lot from him."
Says it all, really.
Now we know who aspires to be the Dutch Berlusconi. Does Verdonk have lots of big media connections? We have met the enemy, and it is us — Pogo
After a poor result in the nationwide local elections, the Socialist Left Party (SV) has decided to change its line-up of government ministers.SV, a minority partner along with the agrarian Center Party, in the Labour dominated 'red-green alliance', will make farmer party leader Erik Solheim Minister of the Environment, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) reports.Aftenposten and NRK report the possibility of Solheim becoming a 'superminister' as he has made it clear that he does not want to leave his current post as Minister of International Development, and is so likely to get a post combining the two jobs.
SV, a minority partner along with the agrarian Center Party, in the Labour dominated 'red-green alliance', will make farmer party leader Erik Solheim Minister of the Environment, NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) reports.
Aftenposten and NRK report the possibility of Solheim becoming a 'superminister' as he has made it clear that he does not want to leave his current post as Minister of International Development, and is so likely to get a post combining the two jobs.
